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Home - Course Web Pages - Spring 2006 - LIBR 210-14 Greensheet

LIBR 210-14
Reference & Information Services
Spring 2006 Greensheet

Scott Walter
E-mail
Office Hours: By appointment via Blackboard

Greensheet Links
Textbooks and Resources
Course Requirements
Assignments
Dates To Remember
About Your Instructor 		Resources
Blackboard
Blackboard Tutorials
APA Resources		  

Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard during these dates: January 18-25. You will be required to use a password access code which I will provide using the MYSJSU Messaging system.

Course Description

Catalog Description
A process-oriented examination of how information professionals answer reference questions. The interpersonal skills required for effective question negotiation and the sources with which questions are answered are stressed.

Full Description
This course is designed to present an overview of reference and information services in a variety of settings, including: methods and models of information service delivery, basic tools for reference and information services, and emergent trends in reference and information service.

The major topics are:

  1. the historical evolution of reference and information service in libraries;
  2. traditional and emergent models of reference and information service;
  3. evaluation, selection, and use of general reference sources;
  4. evaluation and management of reference collections and services;
  5. issues in information technology and its impact on the provision of reference and information services; and,
  6. specialized services often incorporated into reference and information service programs, including access services, instructional services, and government information services.

Course Goals and Objectives

By the conclusion of this course, students will:

  1. demonstrate familiarity with a number of basic reference sources in print and electronic format by providing answers to sample questions designed to utilize those sources;
  2. demonstrate the ability to evaluate reference sources in a given area by identifying core resources for a field of study;
  3. demonstrate the ability to evaluate reference and information services at the individual or programmatic level;
  4. be introduced to a variety of approaches to providing reference and information service, both traditional and emergent;
  5. become familiar with current trends and issues in reference and information service; and,
  6. begin to explore various areas of professional specialty common to reference librarians (e.g., by subject, by function).

This course supports the following School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) objectives:

  1. SLIS supports an environment and curriculum that prepares students to function effectively in libraries, information centers, schools, and other relevant institutions.
  2. SLIS contributes to the knowledge base of the information community by engaging in basic and applied research and communicating its results through faculty and student presentations, activities, and publications.

By the conclusion of this course, the student will:

  1. become familiar with the major theories and principles that form the foundation of reference and information services;
  2. be able to evaluate research related to the theory and practice of reference and information services;
  3. demonstrate knowledge of current practices in information service, transfer, and management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and utilization of information resources; and,
  4. understand the application of information technologies to information services.

Textbooks and Resources

Required Texts
Bopp, R. E., & Smith, L. C. (2001). Reference and information services: An introduction (3rd ed.). Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Janes, J. (2003). Introduction to reference work in the digital age. New York: Neal-Schuman.

You may order the Bopp & Smith textbook directly from Libraries Unlimited, and you may order the Janes textbook directly from Neal-Schuman. You may also acquire them through Web-based vendors such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Supplemental Texts
The following texts are not required for this course, but they elaborate on some of the issues we will examine. Students have often asked for suggestions for additional material, and the texts listed below are meant to meet that need. Each is an excellent text that interested students may wish to review at some point:

The following texts may be of particular interest to managers and other library administrators, as they focus on management and assessment of information and instructional services:

Additional Readings
Additional course materials will be available through the Blackboard course site, or via the full-text electronic journal collection..

Core Journals
Finally, you should begin to become familiar with professional journals that address reference and information service issues appropriate to your career plans, e.g.:

The call numbers listed above are drawn from the SJSU library catalog, but they should also help you locate materials, if available, at any academic library to which you may have access. Titles marked with an asterisk (*) show electronic access through the SJSU Electronic Journals List.

Discussion Lists
Electronic discussion lists are an important part of professional dialogue and support for reference and information service librarians. All students in this class should subscribe to LIBREF-L, the largest electronic discussion list dedicated to issues in reference librarianship.

*Join LIBREF-L*

In addition to LIBREF-L, you will find a variety of electronic discussion lists dedicated to specific subject areas (e.g., history librarianship), to specialized service areas often administered as part of reference and information service programs (e.g., instructional services), and to the use of information technology as a means of delivering reference and information services. A sample of these additional lists can be found in the "External Links" section of the Blackboard course site. Students may be especially interested in DIG_REF, the discussion list dedicated to digital reference services.

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Course Requirements

Format
This is a Web-based course. All class activities will take place through the Blackboard course site, including asynchronous discussions and synchronous chat. When a synchronous chat has been scheduled, you will be alerted ahead of time to facilitate attendance. Students may also make use of group chat functions in order to facilitate completion of the case study assignment.

Technical Requirements
You must have access to the following: Internet/World Wide Web access, Java-enabled Web browser, Microsoft Office (particularly Word and PowerPoint), and Adobe Acrobat Reader 5+. In addition, you may find that some chat-based digital reference services are more likely to work if you are using a PC and Internet Explorer. Finally, you may find that some resources and services will be easier to manage if you have access to a broad-band connection to the Internet, but all resources should be accessible even with a 56K dial-up service.

You must be able to send and receive e-mail, including attachments. You should plan to check your e-mail and the Blackboard course site regularly for announcements. You are also responsible for assuring that your contact information in Blackboard is current and that messages sent to you through the Blackboard server are not being caught by your SPAM filter.

For more detailed information, consult the SLIS home computing environment page.

Blackboard
SLIS IT support personnel have created a "Blackboard Tutorials and Resources for SLIS Instructors and Students" site. It is located at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/blackboard/. Use the tutorial to learn how to set up and manage your Blackboard account.

Incompletes
A grade of "Incomplete" will be assigned only in cases of medical or family emergency.

Academic Integrity
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are strongly prohibited by university policy. All assignments turned in for grading must represent your own work, either individually or (when appropriate) as part of a group. Assignments suitable for group work will be noted explicitly. To help avoid questions, please be sure to cite all sources used for evaluative and research assignments.

It is the responsibility of the student to maintain a copy of all graded and returned materials for use as evidence in any question that might arise regarding the final grade in the course.

Office Hours
There will be no specific online office hours set for this class, but your instructor will be available to answer questions submitted either through the Blackboard course site, or directly to my e-mail address. Please note that your instructor is on Central time, and that you should expect to receive a reply to any questions within 48 hours of receipt. Any extended absences that might affect response time will be announced through the Blackboard course site. You may also make an appointment to meet with me in the chat room available through the Blackboard course site.

Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to establish record of their disability.

No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/

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Course Assignments

Class Participation (20%)
All students are expected to participate fully in the course. Active participation in all synchronous and asynchronous discussions is expected of all students, and each student is expected to maintain individual contact with the instructor regarding course requirements, concerns, etc. Participation in threaded discussions will be crucial to success in this course and will be evaluated using the "Guidelines for Critical Engagement" described in the individual course presentations and assignments available on the Blackboard course site.

In addition to active participation, each student will be required to complete a number of assignments based on our study of reference and information sources and services. These assignments and their weight in determining your final grade for this course are as follows:

Reference Interview Analyses (20%)
You will pose reference questions in different information environments and observe different approaches to reference and information service. This assignment is designed to help you begin turning a critical eye on reference services provided in person and in the Web-based environment through a combination of observation, interaction, and reflection. Analysis I (Face-to-Face) will be due on February 15th. Analysis II (digital reference) will be due on March 8th

Reference Source Exercises (20%)
You will answer a number of sample reference questions using different tools. These short exercises are designed to help acquaint you with different types of reference tools (e.g., encyclopedias, indexes) and their use. You will also provide brief evaluations of the tool(s) used to answer each question. Assignments will be due on March 22nd, April 5th, April 19th, and May 3rd.

Digital Reference Service (20%)
You will provide digital reference service through the Virtual Reference Desk (VRD) as part of the Digital Reference Education Initiative. This assignment has multiple parts and must be completed no later than May 10th. A complete schedule of due dates for this assignment will be made available through the Blackboard course site.

Case Study (20%)
In this group project, you will discuss and reflect on the salient points of a case study in the management of information, access, or instructional services. This assignment is designed to help you become familiar with issues in the management of public services in the contemporary professional environment. This assignment will be due on May 16th.

Submitting Assignments
Assignments must be submitted on their specified due dates. Any assignment turned in after the due date, without the permission of the instructor, will have its total score reduced by one letter grade. You must have permission from the instructor to submit your assignment late prior to the due date. Any assignment turned in more than one week after the deadline will not be accepted for grading, and a failing grade will be recorded (unless a student has received an extension from the instructor).

Correct usage of academic English, spelling, grammar, and composition are expected, and all sources should be cited according to the most recent (5th) edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. For further information, see the SLIS APA Style Resources page.

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Assignment Due Dates

All assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on the dates noted below.

Assignments may be submitted either through the Digital Drop Box in Blackboard, or by e-mail attachment to your instructor.

Detailed instructions for each assignment will be posted in the "Assignments" section of the Blackboard course site.

February 15th Reference Interview Analysis I (Face-to-Face)
March 8th Reference Interview Analysis II (Digital Reference)
March 22nd Reference Source Assignment I: Indexes
April 5th Reference Source Assignment II: Directories, Almanacs, Yearbooks, Handbooks
April 19th Reference Source Assignment III: Biographical, Dictionaries, Encyclopedias
May 3rd Reference Source Assignment IV: Geographical and Government Information
May 10th Completion of Digital Reference Service Assignment
(see assignment sheet for due dates throughout the semester)
May 16th Case Study

Note: remember to regularly consult the Blackboard course site for any announced changes to assignments or due dates.

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About Your Instructor

Scott Walter is currently Assistant Dean for Information & Instructional Services at the University of Kansas Libraries. Prior to this, he served as Interim Assistant Director for Public Services & Outreach, Interim Head of Library Instruction, and Head of the George B. Brain Education Library, all at Washington State University. He has also served as a reference and information services librarian at The Ohio State University and at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Scott is an active member of the American Library Association, the Association of College & Research Libraries, and the American Educational Research Association (among others). He completed his M.L.S. at Indiana University, where he also completed an M.S. in History and Philosophy of Education. He also holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Washington State University. He has taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses at Indiana University, Indiana State University, Washington State University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Illinois.

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